Record Reviews

KEEF HARTLEY BAND ~ HALFBREED ESOTERIC 2050 (Barcode: 5013929715028) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2008 1st album by the excellent Keef Hartley BandFind albums by this artist, one the best Blues / Rock / Jazz ensembles ever, founded by drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist following his stint with John MayallFind albums by this artist´s BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist. The band featured a nucleus consisting of singer / guitarist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist, guitarist Spit JamesFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Peter DinesFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary ThainFind albums by this artist and Hartley on drums. In addition a horn section was added to expand the band´s sound, which on this album consisted of the best horn players in Britain: trumpeters Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist and Harry BecketFind albums by this artist and saxophonists Lynn DobsonFind albums by this artist and Chris MercerFind albums by this artist. Together this nine-piece band had a tremendous power and considering the quality of its members it was simply the best "little Big Band" around at the time. Hartley´s sensitive drumming drives the music through a set of fantastically well written and superbly arranged tunes, which are Blues based but extend often into Rock and Jazz. The guitar work is stunning, the brass arrangement just right on the money, in short heaven on earth for any Blues fan, but basically early Jazz-Rock Fusion enthusiasts will find here everything they need to make them happy. Definitely a classic of the genre and an essential piece of music if ever there was one!

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

KEEF HARTLEY BAND ~ LIVE AT ESSEN POP & BLUES FESTIVAL 1969 & 1970 MIG 02842 (Barcode: 885513028426) ~ UK ~ Brass Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2024 This is an archival 2CD live album by the legendary British Blues-Rock group, led by drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist and called The Keef Hartley BandFind albums by this artist. The album presents the band’s concerts in Germany in 1969 (on CD1 – six tracks) and 1970 (on CD2 – seven tracks). The lineup on CD1 includes Hartley, guitarist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist, bassist Gary ThainFind albums by this artist and a brass section with trumpeter Henry LowtherFind albums by this artist and saxophonist Jimmy JewellFind albums by this artist. The lineup on CD2 includes Hartley, Anderson, Thain and second guitarist Spit JamesFind albums by this artist. Although Lowther and Jewell are not listed on the album’s booklet, they most definitely also play on CD2 and Lowther plays violin in addition to playing trumpet. The Keef Hartley Band was of the British representatives of the Blues-Rock and early Brass Rock / Jazz-Rock Fusion, which offered a phenomenal instrumental ability by its members, especially that of Miller Anderson, who was one of the best electric Blues players of all time, and the brass players, who were also active on the exploding British Jazz scene, like Lowther. Between 1969 and 1972 the band released six sensational studio albums, all of which are absolute classic of the early British Blues-Rock recordings, which sound absolutely superb to this very day. Although the sound quality of these live recordings is not ideal, it is certainly decent enough to enjoy the music and considering how little archival material of this band exists, this album is a true Holy Grail. Overall, this is a brilliant piece of British Blues-Rock and Brass Rock, which is an absolute must to collectors of that kind of music. As usual thanks to the German Radio stations (here the WDR), who not only recorded everything but also kept the recordings safe, we are able to enjoy the fruits of their labor now.

Updated: 27/12/2025Posted: 27/12/2025

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend